A study OF the armor of GOD

Armor o f God Curr icu lum • www.missionarlington.org

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4

Objectives:

To be reminded

who the enemy is

To be prepared to

stand firm

To continue

issuing equipment

To be sure of en-

listment

Mission 4: Sandals of the gospel of

Peace (Ephesians 6:15)

The Uniform: God’s Armor

As Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus he

compared the Roman soldier’s armor to the prepara-

tion we need for spiritual battles against our en-

emy the devil. What was the first piece of armor

he mentioned? (The Belt of Truth) And the second?

(The Breastplate of Righteousness) The third goes

on the feet, the Good News of Peace. Covering the

feet may not sound as important as protecting all

the vital organs, but what would happen in battle

if you couldn’t stand? You see, the Roman sol-

diers’ sandals were strapped on and had really

thick soles that were covered with nails. That

seems like overkill, but the enemy was known for

sharpening sticks into a point and burying them in

the ground so that they could barely be seen. If

those sticks were able to penetrate a sandal, that

would be the end of the soldier.¹

How can peace keep us standing firm in a battle?

Let’s figure out what peace is, first. Peace can

mean that there is no war, but if we are talking

about preparation for a battle, that can’t be it.

Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Jesus is the Prince of

Peace, so where Jesus reigns (or is in control)

there is peace. Did you know that you can be at

perfect peace in your heart? You can if you have

received the Good News of Jesus Christ, are sur-

rendered to Him as Lord and stay focused on Him

rather than the circumstances around you. (Isaiah

26:3)

The Swearing-In: Have you enlisted?

Does that describe you? Is your heart at peace?

Do you know that you can’t begin to have peace

with those around you if its not? The Bible, our

Instruction Manual, says, “There is no peace...for

the wicked” but “He promises peace to His people,

His faithful servants.” (Isaiah 48:22, Psalm 85:8)

Are you ready for that peace? Then invite Jesus

to come into your heart and life and lead you.

That is exactly what He is waiting for!

From the

instruction

manual:

(Memory Verse)

How beautiful on

the mountains are

the feet of the

messenger who brings

good news, the good

news of peace and

salvation, the news

that the God of

Israel reigns!

(Isaiah 52:7 NLT)

Once you hear the truth of God’s Word, accept it, and begin to live in

obedience, it leads to sharing your faith. Then you are making sure others

are at peace with God!

Combat Intelligence: The Enemy

Do you think your enemy wants you at peace with God? Of course not! If

you’ll remember, he wanted Job to curse God. Job knew his God and trusted

Him. “If (you) have done everything (you) can to walk in peace with God

and others, (you) will be able to stand against the enemy’s accusa-

tions...Remember Satan is a murderer—a destroyer. Jesus is the Prince of

Peace, the Giver of Life.”¹

Your Instruction Manual, the Bible says, “‘When you are angry, don’t let

that anger make you sin,’ and don’t stay angry all day. Don’t give the

devil a way to defeat you.” (Ephesians 4:26-27) Staying angry is linked

with giving the devil and opportunity to defeat you! You see, the things

that our sinful selves want to do include “hatred and fighting, jealousy

and fits of anger,” but the things that come from letting God be in con-

trol include “love, joy, and peace.” (Galatians 5:19, 22)

Satan will not stand by idly while you share peace with others. He will

roar and he will try to devour, but remember what your Instruction Manual,

the Bible, says will happen with your enemy, the devil? “The God of Peace

will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20) Now that’s good

news!

The Battle Plan: Be Prepared to Stand Firm

From the verses above, its obvious that standing firm requires obedience

to your superior officers and to God. Holding on to anger is not the way.

In fact, once we are at peace with God and help others to find that peace,

you and I should live at peace with others. That is mentioned over and

over again in your Instruction Manual. In the book of Romans it says, “If

it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone

(12:18),” and “let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard

to build up one another(14:19).” You can do that by not staying angry

with anyone and by forgiving people when they wrong you. In Hebrews we

read, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy;

without holiness no one will see the Lord (12:14).” If Jesus is the

Prince of Peace, then you are following His example when you make peace

with others. “Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called

children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

¹Arthur, Kay. Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand. 1991. Waterbrook Press. P. 231-232.

¹Arthur, Kay. Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand. 1991. Waterbrook Press. P. 233.

activities

Make sandals. Trace the shape of your student’s shoes onto

cardboard or another thick product. Use ribbon, jute, etc.

for the ties.

Make a variety of “feet crafts” like bookmarks, butterflies

and even sandals.

Continue memorizing Ephesians 6:10-20 (Spiritual Basic Train-

ing). Do a verse or phrase at a time and make up hand mo-

tions that will help your students remember.

Run Relay Races to enforce the idea of Basic Training.

Learn and sing “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” and “I’m In

the Lord’s Army,” “Be Bold,” and “Trust and Obey.”

Review the Plan of Salvation. Make bookmarks, bracelets,

crosses, wordless books or whatever will make the plan of

salvation clear to your students.

Extra Training: Look up the following verses and talk about

how they can help you share the Good News of Peace with oth-

ers. John 3:16; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8; Acts 16:30-31.

Extra Training for older students: Read Romans 16:19-20.

Sing Chris Tomlin’s “Romans 16:19 says.”

Extra Training: Read 2 Kings 5:1-19. There is no battle this

week. Talk about all the ways peace was kept in this pas-

sage. What was the result? (Re-read verse 15.)

How beautiful

on the mountains

are the feet of the

messenger who

brings good news,

the good news of

peace and salvation, the

news that the God of

Israel reigns!

Isaiah 52:7

Word search

r r e n d e r t h e r e e e m

s u l r e n g e r f i s c s i

o g u d s n o i t a v l a s o

d h f t l t d u s t y r e j h

s t i o t n e m u h e d p e t

a u t m a n b e p e t s f s I

r r u t a n d f i r m u o u a

y t a e r r l t t o b r s s f

t h e f e e t a o f a r w i y

n o b r i n g g o o d n e w s

y t a a r m o u n t a i n s k

n l t s t c e f y e b o d r l

s e r e i g n s v s d e o u a

e b g v i a e r o m r r o t w

o r i g h t e o u s n e g s h

How _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the messenger who _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, the news that

the _ _ _ of Israel _ _ _ _ _ _! (Isaiah 52:7 NLT)

Word search Answers

r r e n d e r t h e r e e e m

s u l r e n g e r f i s c s i

o g u d s n o i t a v l a s o

d h f t l t d u s t y r e j h

s t i o t n e m u h e d p e t

a u t m a n b e p e t s f s I

r r u t a n d f i r m u o u a

y t a e r r l t t o b r s s f

t h e f e e t a o f a r w i y

n o b r i n g g o o d n e w s

y t a a r m o u n t a i n s k

n l t s t c e f y e b o d r l

s e r e i g n s v s d e o u a

e b g v i a e r o m r r o t w

o r i g h t e o u s n e g s h

How beautiful on the mountains are

the feet of the messenger who brings

good news, the good news of

peace and salvation, the news that

the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7 NLT)